eyewash

Meanings

1. The washing out of the eyes with copious solution (usually water alone) to quickly remove an irritant, as for example in laboratories and industrial plants; the washing solution itself.
2. A soothing medicated lotion for the eyes.
3. Camouflage; disguise; false front; pretense; nonsense.

1. To fool with nonsense or flattery.
2. To keep information secret by sending false information to many people in one's own organization, and correct information to a select few.

Etymology

From eye + wash. Compare typologically Russian глаз замы́лился (glaz zamýlilsja) (akin to мы́ло (mýlo), мыть (mytʹ)).